Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Brookfield, WI?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 36.1% of gross income.

Brookfield rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Wisconsin state estimate).

Brookfield median rent
$2,207/mo
Police Officer salary (Wisconsin)
$73,407/yr
Rent as % of income
36.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,117, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,835/mo in rent. Brookfield's median rent of $2,207 exceeds that threshold by $372/mo, putting a police officer salary into the rent-burdened range here. A police officer works roughly 62.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a police officer salary

The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Wisconsin cities have lower median rent than Brookfield, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:

Verona, WI
$2,089/mo (34.1% of income)
Saukville, WI
$2,050/mo (33.5% of income)
Grafton, WI
$2,050/mo (33.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Brookfield

View full rent data for Brookfield, WI

Frequently asked questions

Can a police officer afford rent in Brookfield, WI?

Median rent in Brookfield is $2,207 a month. A typical police officer in Wisconsin earns about $73,407 a year, which makes that rent 36.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a police officer afford in Brookfield?

Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Wisconsin (~$73,407/yr) supports up to $1,835 a month in rent. Brookfield's current median rent is $2,207/mo, which is $372/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Brookfield?

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a police officer in Wisconsin works roughly 62.5 hours a month to cover Brookfield's median rent of $2,207.

Where is rent cheaper than Brookfield for a police officer?

Nearby Wisconsin cities with lower median rent include Verona ($2,089/mo), Saukville ($2,050/mo), Grafton ($2,050/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a police officer salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Wisconsin state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Brookfield, WI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.